Pinay nurse in UK recognized for work during pandemic

MANILA, Philippines — Queen Elizabeth II has awarded Filipina nurse Charito Romano with the British Empire Medal for outstanding work at a nursing care home in the midst of the pandemic in the United Kingdom.

“Many congratulations to staff nurse Charito Romano, from the Philippines, awarded a British Empire Medal in the #NewYearsHonours for her outstanding work at Arbrook House Care Home in the UK during the #Covid19 pandemic,” British ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce tweeted on Saturday.

Romano was among the 1,239 people who were included in the New Year Honors List 2021 published on Thursday by the UK government.

“It is so nice to be recognized knowing that I am a Filipino nurse and not trained in the UK,” she told UK journal Nursing Standard.

“I just stood up and took action… Whatever the guidelines or the government said, I acted on it and put it into place to make sure I supported the manager so that our care home was safe,” she added.

The British honors system, published twice every year, recognizes people who have made achievements in public life and committed themselves to serving and helping the UK.

The British Empire Medal is given to those who provide hands-on service to the local community, such as long-term charitable or voluntary activity or innovative work that has made a significant difference.

The awards are recommended by an honors committee based on the nominations received from the public. Its recommendations are then forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Queen, who awards the honor.

In a statement, the UK government said extraordinary public service was at the center of the latest honors list.

“Public sector workers make up 14.8 percent of the list and include firefighters, medical professionals, teachers, police officers and local government workers – all of whom are being recognized for making a huge individual impact, and in particular in the response to COVID-19,” it noted.

Among them were 123 health and social care workers like Romano, who played a significant role in responding to the pandemic.

Last October, Filipina nurse Minnie Klepacz was also awarded a British Empire Medal for services to nursing during COVID-19. She is a matron for ophthalmology at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in England.